小说园

第30部分（第1页）

apple　now　hid　from　the　hunter。　Chipmunks　and　squirrels　were　burrowed　in

their　dens。　There　was　the　rustle　of　evergreen　boughs　in　the　wind；　the

icy　gurgle　of　the　brook　as　it　charged　downstream；　the　crunch　of　their

boots　on　the　near…frozen　ground。

Annes　cheeks　were　as　red　as　her　cap　when　they　returned；　tired　but

exhilarated；　and　it　was　a　harbinger　of　the　days　ahead。　They　settled　into

the　fort　of　easy　panionship；　sharing　not　only　meals；　but　most

every　other　time　of　the　day。　Mitch　read　when　Anne　did；　his　eye

occasionally　catching　hers。　They　played　backgammon　in　front　of　the　fire；

and　worked　together　on　a　jigsaw　puzzle。　The　weather　held；　offering

pleasant　days　with　clear　skies；　and　an　invigorating　chill　to　the　night。

They　walked　together　and　worked　together；　Anne　on　her　translating；　Mitch

on　papers　dug　from　an　overstuffed　briefcase。　They　lived　in　the　here　and

now；　avoiding　talk　of　the　city　like　the　plague。

All　too　soon；　Anne　loaded　up　her　car　for　the　return　trip　to　New　York。

Slinging　an　arm　across　her　shoulder；　Mitch　walked　her　from　the　house　a

final　time。　The　silence　had　been　heavier　that　morning　than　at　any　other

point　in　the　week。　Anne　knew　its　cause。

〃Will　you　be　spending　Thanksgiving　with　your　family？〃　he　asked　quietly。

〃Yes。〃　She　took　in　his　handsome　features；　studying；　memorizing。　〃And

you？〃

〃The　same。〃　He　held　her　just　a　little　closer。　〃Plans　for　New　Years

Eve？〃

They　had　reached　the　car。　She　faced　him；　smiling　sadly。　〃Funny。　I　used

to　worry　about　New　Years　Eve。　Would　I　have　a　date？　Would　I　not？　Would

he　be　tall；　dark；　and　handsome？　Now　it　doesnt　seem　to　matter。〃　She

sighed。　〃No；　I　dont　have　a　date。　I　may　just　plant　myself　on　my　sofa

with　a　bottle　of　Chablis　and　a　book。〃

〃Why　not　do　it　here？〃　His　eyes　were　deep　green；　the　color　of　saying

something　important。

Her　pulse　raced。　〃What？〃

〃Spend　New　Years　Eve　here。〃

〃Will　you？〃　she　asked　without　premeditation。　He　pulled　her　close；　into

the　warmth　of　his　sheepskin　jacket。　〃Yes。〃

〃What　about　your　other　obligations？〃　Unpremeditated　also；　but　the　answer

mattered。

Mitch　was　a　minute　in　answering。　〃She　goes　to　bed　too　early　for　my

tastes；　certainly　too　early　to　make　it　to　midnight。　No；〃　he　grinned；

〃she　wouldnt　be　much　fun　on　New　Years　Eve。　Besides；　shes　not　a　fan　of